The Catherine Circle Projects

The Catherine Circle, the McAuley Community Services for Women giving circle, was launched on June 23 2016. It was a great celebration to 'announce'
the first projects funded by the Circle. Our CEO Jocelyn Bignold talked about how advocacy works, and Louise Doyle, CEO of the Besen Family
Foundation, launched the Circle and inspired those present when she spoke about the power of giving.

Each year members are presented with two projects to conisder for funding.

For those who want to know more about joining this remarkable initiative, head to our Catherine Circle page.

Findings from 2016 The Catherine Circles projects

In 2016, two research projects were funded through the Catherine Circle: Safe at Home and an evaluation of McAuley Works.

Jocelyn Bignold, CEO, said: “The studies will help inform the future direction of both programs, and have already shaped new thinking.”

“The Catherine Circle highlights the power of giving when people come together for a common cause. The projects give donors an indepth understanding
of particular issues, and their donations directly help to solve a problem or gap in the system. It is a tremendous initiative, and I encourage
people to consider joining.”

Safe at Home

Since 2010, McAuley has attemeted to deliver a Safe at Home service for women and fiamilies at McAuley Care.

The aim is to work collaboratively with other organisations to ensure women and children can return home safely, with the perpetrator of violence
removed from the home.

Unfortunately, this approach is in stark contrast with the current system where the perpetrator stays, and it is the victims- the women and children-
who are forced to leave.

“While we support many families to move into safe accommodation, very few safely return home,” Jocelyn Bignold said.

“Thanks to the Catherine Circle, we have been able to carry out essential analysis to understand more about why women coming into its family violence
service are unable to return home safely, and to investigate the possible development of an expanded Safe at Home program,” she added.

The findings are revealing. Through discussions with clients at McAuley Care, women said they felt conflicted about returning home, some were too
scared to stay in their homes after violence which is why they chose to flee to stay safe. Others were reluctant to apply for an Intervention
Order to exclude their partner from the family home because it meant the partner would effectively become homeless.

“The current reality is that women and children are fleeing into a system that is under resourced and potentially places women and children at
further risk of trauma and harm,” Jocelyn said.

“Our data shows that most families who come to McAuley Care move on to short term, unstable accommodation with friends or family, or to refuge
accommodation,” she added.

The Catherine Circle analysis has enabled McAuley to put together a framework that will guide how the organisation works with the women in the
future.

“Emergency housing isn’t the only option, and the opportunity to explore going home safely is something we need to introduce at every point of
our service,” Jocelyn said.

Safe at Home, which was McAuley’s primary recommendation to the Royal Commission into Family Violence, was taken up by the Commissioners. They said the program should be expanded and be funded to include suitable case management, rental/ mortgage subsidies, personal safety devices, in addition to monitoring of perpetrators by police and the justice system.

McAuley Works

Financial independence is critical for women to successfully leave family violence behind them. While women remain financially dependent on violent
men, they are less likely to leave them. Without sustained employment, women who have left a violent relationship are more likely to enter
the homelessness sector.

“We set up McAuley Works, a successful employment support program for disadvantaged women, to address these issues and were successful in placing
women in worthwhile jobs at a greater ratethan government-funded programs could manage. Unfortunately, we had to close the program in 2015
due to a lack of funding,” Jocelyn Bignold said.

A year later, McAuley was funded by the Victorian Government’s Jobs Victoria Employment Network (JVEN) to develop a new employment support program.

“As part of our planning process, we wanted to find out more from previous clients about their current employment status and history, their level
of financial independence, and their opinions of the program,” Jocelyn said.

Of 204 registered clients, 90 were contacted and 35 completed a telephone questionnaire. The findings show that tenof the respondents have sustained
full time employment indicating their potential for financial independence, however the majority were in part time or casual positions and
still reliant on government financial support.

Most of the women are in part-time work, with jobs in aged care, community care and cleaning the most common. Today three are studying.

“We now know from this analysis that the women all gained increased confidence from practical work-ready skills, being fitted out with work attire,
and being accompanied to interviews,” Jocelyn said.

“These findings are already making a difference to the new McAuley Works program,” she added.

McAuley Community Services for Women advocates for change to ensure justice and equality for women and their children

About Us

McAuley Community Services for Women advocates for change to ensure justice and equality for women and their children.

McAuley's Future 'Strengthened'

Sr Kath Tierney was Congregational Leader in 2008 when the Sisters of Mercy decided to amalgamate Mercy Care and Regina Coeli, to form McAuley Community Services for Women. Today, as Treasurer of McAuley’s Board Kath is instrumental in the ongoing development of the specialist service. Read more

McAuley Community Services for Women is building a future from the founding spirit of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy.

In 2016-2017, 742 women and children were directly supported through McAuley Programs. Read more about our work in our Annual Report.

Sisters of Mercy Take A Chance

Six years ago the Sisters of Mercy took a risk. It was considered and planned, but a risk nonetheless. They decided to bring together Regina Coeli and Mercy Care to establish McAuley Community Services for Women. Regina Coeli became McAuley House and Mercy Care became McAuley Care. Read more

Mission and Values

In 2016-2017 we supported 742 women and their children to rebuild their lives and have safer, brighter futures. You can read more about our work in
our Annual Report.

McAuley Community Services for Women is committed to advocate for a better, safer and just society.

We are accredited through Quality Improvement and Community Services Accreditation in Victoria, most recently in 2015.

Our Voice Must Be Heard

Our CEO Jocelyn Bignold reviews our achievements in 2016-2017 and highlights that there is still much more to do. Read more

About Us

McAuley Community Services for Women advocates for change to ensure justice and equality for women and their children.

Pebbles Proves Pets are Great Therapy

Pebbles, a border terrier with big fluffy ears, knows all about being loved and hugged, thanks to a special partnership between Lort Smith Animal Hospital and McAuley House. Read more

Partnerships

McAuley Community Services for Women advocates for change to ensure justice and equality for women and their children.

Careers

People who work with us make a big difference to the lives of women who've experienced family violence and homelessness. Read about some of our staff: